Cancellation fees for shifts

If you have a shift or a day job cancelled, you should of course charge the full fee if you have turned down other work to fit it in.

It is reasonable to charge the full fee for days cancelled with less than a week's notice.

As always, our recommendation is to negotiate professionally. You had a contract to do work. If the original work the client had in mind is not there or is not ready on time, is there other work you could do for them? If not, what will they offer in fulfilment of the contract?

Several NUJ members have, however, requested a schedule of cancellation charges. See the link below to an experimental schedule.

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See: Experimental suggested schedule of cancellation fees

Code of practice for commissioning journalists

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The National Union of Journalists must not, can not and would not wish to dictate rates or terms of engagement to members or to editors. The information presented here is for guidance and as an aid to equitable negotiation only.

Suggestions apply to contracts governed by UK law only. In any event, nothing here should be construed as legal advice.